Hand and foot propelled vehicle



L. B. BIRO ET AL HAND AND FOOT PROPEL LED VEHICLE June 12, 1951 Filed Dec. 16, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BJNVBENTOR. Louis iro MIC/'IOG/ B. Biro BY fi-mq lowtwg,

ATTOR EYS June 12, 1951 1.. B. BIRO ETAL 2,556,411

HAND AND FOOT PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 16, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/YTOR. LGLHS B. BNO

Michael B. Biro ATTRNEYS 7 June 12, 1951 B. BIRO ETAL 2,556,411

HAND AND FOOT PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 16, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTOR. Louis' B. Biro Michael B. Biro AT ORN Patented June 12, 1951 ass-e411 HAND AND FOOT PLROPELLED VEHICLE Louis B. Biro, New york, and Michael B. Biro,

Jackson Heights, N Y assignors to Biro Products Corporation, New York, N.-Y., a corporation of New York Application December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,402

I 8 Claims.

' invention relates to figure velocip edes simulating a bucking bronco when propelled by the rider.

Onei'of the objects of our invention is the provision: of a velocipede of this type which is operated by interconnected hand and foot actuatedmeans so arranged that the hand actuating means isi also adapted for steering the'velocipede;

AnQl her object of our invention is to form the body to' simulate a pony so connected to the drivinfgllmechanism that the movement of "the velocipede' over the pavement will cause the rear ;of=,;-the pony to be alternately raised and loweredfrelative to the pavement by cranks connected to the driving shaft and also to alternate'lypraise and lower the front of the pony alternately with the raising and lowering of the ponygby, a pivotal connection of the body with the steering column through themechanism and oscillating movement of the steering column over the steering wheel during the movement of the velocipede over the pavement.

- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede in accordance with my invention;

Figure} is a plan view; Figure 3 is a front view; p Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, merely showing a portionof the supporting frame for the rider;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the front portion ;the mechanism, while the rear portion tion of the line 55 of Figure 4, the supe dis a detail sectional View through the column and fork for the front wheel ger scale; I

Figures '7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating s positions of the mechanism during one I on of the rear axle;

F gure 11 is a detail sectional view showing the connection between the connecting rod and the driving crank for the crankshaft; and

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line I2-l2 of Figure 1.

The structure illustrated in the' drawings comprises a pair of rear wheels III, at least oneof which is fixed to a crankshaft H by means of a-set screw l3 while the other freely rotates thereon, the crankshaft is provided with a driving frame merely being shown in dotted (o1. zoo-1.194

yoke 18. The shells l6 are held in spaced relation by collars 20 connected to the crank I4, One

end of a tubular connecting rod 22 is connected to the crankshaft bearing members 24F held centrally of the crank by collars 26 connected to the crank l2. g

The other end of the connecting rod 22 is provided with a bar 28 of rectangular cross-section,

crank l2 and a crank I4 on each side thereof be- 1 tween the crank 12 and a wheel Ill. The wheels to are held in spaced relation on the ends of the crankshaft by bosses l5 secured to the crankshaft.

The crankshaft is journalled in ball bearings in shells It, each being connected to an end of a the end thereof being driven into the tubular portion and welded thereto, the bar 28 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 30 ofconsiderable length for the purpose hereinafter described. g

The front wheel 32 of the velocipede is mounted between the members of a fork 34 on ball-bearings on a pin 36 connecting the members of the fork to; each other.' Welded to the cross-bar connecting the upper ends of members of the fork 34 is a tubular member 38 forming the steering column. Welded to the lower end of the steering column member 38 is a curved member as which extends over the front wheel 32. Connected to the lower end of the curved member 49 is a forked member 42 to which the arm 30 of bar 28 is pivotallyconnected at 44 Mounted between arms dt extending upwardly from the yoke l8 between the rear wheels and a block 48 welded to the tubular member is the rider supporting body or member 58 provided with a saddle 54.

The rider supporting member 58 is in the form of the body and hind quarters of a pony and connected thereto by metal plates (in is a portion 56 the shape of the head and neck of a pony, the plates completing the body of the ipony between the portions 56 and 58f The port-ions 56 and 58 are 'spaced from each other a sufficient distance to form a chamber inrwhich the tubular member 38 of the steering column is mounted and is pivotally connected to the plates 60 byEa pin 50 to permit the steering colum to oscillate about the pivotal pin 50. The pin 50 extendsthrough both plates 60 and block 48, the ends of the pin 50 are shouldered'and threaded and vthe pin is held in position by cap nuts 62 on the threaded ends extending beyond the shoulders. The'downwardly extending arm 30 of the rod 28 is provided with an adjustable collar 64 having laterally extending foot rests 66, and, 68 is a thumb screw for securing the collar 64 in its adjusted position on the arm 30. I

Mounted on the upper end of the tubular spindle member 31 is a collar 10 in which is adjustably mounted the stem 12 of handle bars 14, the parts being held in position by means of a set screw 16 threaded in the collar 10 and tubular spindle member 31, the end of the screw engaging the stem 12 to oscillate the tubular spindle member 21 during the steering of the velocipede.

It will be observed that the tubular steering column member 38 is confined between the collar 10 and the cross bar connectin the members of the fork 34 to each other.

Mounted on the upper portion of the plates 60 to partially enclose the chamber in which the steering column is mounted is a flexible cover 18 formed of leather or other suitable material and is provided with an opening through which the steering column extends of sufiicient length to permit the rocking of the steering column about the pivot pin 50 as hereinafter described.

The front wheel of the velocipede is partially covered on each side by the representation of a front leg of a pony, each being designated by the reference character 18 and are connected to each other at the top by a cross piece 80 which is connected to the cross piece of the fork and is provided with an opening through which the tubular member 38 extends. The lower portions of each leg 18 is connected to a member of the fork 34, the connections being such that the legs 18 are shifted with the front wheel during steering with the handle bars 2'4. The legs 18 are also connected to each other by means of a brace 82 in front of the wheel 32 at the knee portion of each leg, while each hoof portion is connected to an extension of a member of the fork 34 below the pin 36 on which wheel 32 rotates, the arrangementbeing such that the front legs will not only be shifted with the turning of the handle bars but will also be oscillated by the movement of the steering column about the pin 50.

It will be noted from Figure that the throw of crank 12 about the axis of the end of the crankshaft H is considerably greater than the cranks M which are in alignment with each other and are arranged to raise and lower the rear portion of the rider supporting member 58 a distance equal to the throw of cranks [4 during each revolution of the wheel Ii! secured to the crankshaft.

The velocipede is operated by moving the handle bars forward and backward and during the backward movement or pull on the handle bars by the rider he may push on the foot rests 66 to turn the crank l2. As the steering column member 38 is pivoted to the front end of the rider supporting member 58, the front part 56 of the rider supporting member 58 is raised and lowered by the movement of the steering column 38 about the axis of the pin 36 on which the front wheel is mounted.

As the portion 58 on which the saddle is supported is mounted on cranks 14 on the shaft II and is pivotally mounted at its front end on the upperportion of the steering column 38, the lower end of the steerin column 38 is connected to the crank l2 on the shaft H by the connection rod 22 and as the saddle supporting member and the portion extending therefrom are shaped to represent a pony diagrammatically shown in Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, the various positions of the driving connections as Well as those of the pony during one revolution of the shaft l l is illustrated.

Assuming that the rider is in the saddle with his hands on the handle bars 14 and his feet on rests 65 with the parts in the position shown in Fig. '7, and, as the cranks l2 extend upwardly the hind quarters of the pony will be in the most elevated position while the head of the pony is in its lowest position. As the rider pushes the handle bars forward, the rear wheels will be rotated counterclockwise by means of the connections between the crank l2 and the lower portion of the steering column 38 by the connecting rod 22, thusmoving the vehicle forward, the movement being accelerated by the weight of the rider during the movement of approximately of the cranks l2 from the position shown in Fig. '7 to a position beyond that shown in Fig. '7. During the forward movement of the handle bars, the steering column will be rocked about the pivot pin 50 which will raise the pony to its highest position when the steering column is in a vertical position or when the pivotal connecting pin 50, between the steering column and the body, is directly over the pin 36 on which the front wheel is mounted, and, as the handle bars are rocked over the pin 59 during the further movement beyond the position shown in Fig. '8, the front and rear of the pony will be in their lowermost positions as shown in Fig.9. During the next movement of the cranks from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 7, the rider will pull on the handle bars and push on the foot rests 66 and return the various connections and the body of the pony to the positions shown in Fig. '7.

The rider during each revolution of the driving wheel connected to the crankshaft will be given the sensation of riding a bucking bronco by the rocking movement of the front wheel about the pivot pin 50.

By the provision of the interconnected driving means between the crankshaft and the steering column by a connecting rod provided with foot engaging members, the rider, while pulling on the handle bars to apply power to the driving mechanism as well as pushing with his legs during the period that he is raised during the upward movement of the rear of the pony and when pushing on the handle bars on the return movement of the connecting rod or at the time the rider cannot apply power with his legs, his weight on the body of the pony will augment the power applied by the pushing of the handle bars.

By the interconnecting driving means for a velocipede actuated by the application of power by both legs and arms, the rider does not only exercise his legs but also his arms as well as his back, and, at the same time, eliminates over speeding due to the raising and lowering of the rider during each revolution of the driving wheel and the rocking movement of the front wheel which produce a slight halt during each revolution of the driving wheel.

It will be evident that numerous variations in the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof as defined in the following claims.

It is also to be understood that the term pony" used in the claims is intended to include the form of any animal or bird mounted on the supporting wheels and driving mechanism.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A velocipede having supporting wheels at the front and rear thereof, a crankshaft on which the rear wheels are mounted, means for connect ing one of the rear wheels to the crankshaft, said shaft having crank means on which the rear of the body of the velocipede is mounted, a steering column having a pivotal connection with the forward portion of the body, a fork between which the front wheel is mounted having a stem extending through the column, means for rotating the stem and oscillating the stem and column on the upper end of the stem, a driving crank on the crankshaft and a connecting rod mounted on said driving crank and pivotally connected to the lower portion of the steering column.

2. A velocipede having a crankshaft, a supporting wheel on each end of the crankshaft, means for connecting one of said wheels to the crankshaft, said crankshaft having a pair of cranks spaced from each other, a body pivotally supuported at one end on said cranks, a steering column pivotally connected to the body, the axis of the pivotal connection between the steering column and the body being parallel to the axis of the crankshaft, a steering and supporting wheel rotatably mounted in a fork, a steering member connected to the fork extending through the steering column, a driving crank on the crankshaft and a connecting rod mounted on said driving crank and pivotally connected to the lower portion of the steering column and means for rotating the steering member and oscillating the column on the steering member.

3. A velocipede having a body, rear supporting wheels and a front supporting and steering wheel, an axle on which the rear wheels are mounted, means for connecting one of said wheels to the rear axle, supporting connections between the axle and the rear of the body including means for raising and lowering the body during the rotation of the axle, a steering column pivotally connected to the forward portion of the body, a fork having a pin on which the steering wheel is mounted, a spindle extending upwardly from the fork through said column in which it is adapted to rotate, means on the upper end of the spindle for rotating the spindle and oscillating the column, and driving connections between the steering column and the axle whereby the axle is rotated when the column is oscillated about its pivotal connection to the body.

4. A velocipede having a body, rear supporting wheels and a front supporting and steering wheel, an axle on which the rear wheels are mounted, means for connecting one of said wheels to the rear axle, supporting connections between the axle and the rear of the body including means for raising and lowering the body during the rotation of the axle, a steering column pivotally connected to the forward portion of the body, a fork having a pin on which the steering wheel is mounted, a spindle extending upwardly from the fork through said column in which it is adapted to rotate, means on the upper end of the spindle for rotating the spindle and oscillating the column, and driving connections between the steering column and the axle, foot engaging members on the driving connections, whereby the axle is rotated when the column is oscillated about its pivotal connection to the body.

5. A velocipede having a body in the form of a pony, rear supporting wheels and a front supporting and steering wheel, an axle for the rear wheels, means for securing one of the rear wheels to the axle, a pair of cranks on the axle in the same plane, a bearing for the axle on each of the cranks, a connection between each bearing and the hind portion of the pony, a steering column pivotally connected to the forward portion of the pony, a steering wheel fork in which the front wheel is mounted, a spindle connected to the cross member of the fork extending up through the column, handle bars connected to the upper end of the spindle for rotating the spindle and oscillating the steering column, a driving crank on the axle and a connecting rod pivotally connected to the lower end of the steering column and the driving crank.

6. A velocipede having a body in the form of a pony, rear supporting wheels and a front supporting and steering Wheel, an axle for the rear wheels, means for securing one of the rear wheels to the axle, a pair of cranks on the axle in the same plane, a bearing for the axle on each of the cranks, a connection between each bearing and the hind portion of the pony, a steering column pivotally connected to the forward portion of the pony, a steering wheel fork in which the front wheel is mounted, a spindle connected to the cross member of the fork extending up through the column, handle bars connected to the upper end of the spindle for rotating the spindle and oscillating the steering column, a driving crank on the axle, a connecting rod pivotally connected to the lower end of the steering column and the driving crank and foot engaging members on the connecting rod.

7. A velocipede having a body in the form of a pony, rear supporting wheels and a front supporting and steering wheel, an axle for the rear Wheels, means for securing one of the rear wheels to the axle, a pair of cranks on the axle in the same plane, a bearing for the axle on each of the cranks, a connection between each bearing and the hind portion of the pony, a steering column pivotally connected to the forward portion of the pony, a steering wheel fork in which the front wheel is mounted, members in the form of the front legs of a pony connected to the fork, a spindle connected to the cross member of the fork extending up through the column, handle bars connected to the upper end of the spindle for rotating the spindle and oscillating the steering column, a driving crank on the axle and a connecting rod pivotally connected to the lower end of the steering column and the driving crank.

8. A velocipede having a body in the form of a pony, rear supporting wheels and a front supporting and steering wheel, an axle for the rear Wheels, means for securing one of the rear wheels to the axle, a pair of cranks on the axle in the same plane, each crank being adjacent one of the wheels, a bearing for the axle on each of the cranks, a connection between each bearing and the hind portion of the pony, there being a recess in the forward portion of the body of the pony, a steering column pivotally connected to the forward portion of the pony, extending through said recess, a steering wheel fork in which the front Wheel is mounted, a spindle connected to the cross member of the fork extending up through the column, handle bars connected to the upper end of the spindle for rotating the spindle and oscillating the steering column, a driving crank on the axle between the bearings and a connecting rod pivotally connected to the lower end of the steering column and the driving crank.

LOUIS B. BIRO. MICHAEL B. BIRO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 871,847 Wilson Nov. 26, 1907 1,528,980 Meyer Mar. 10, 1925 2,092,775 Pearson Sept. 14, 1937 2,484,954 Marasco Oct. 18, 1949 

